The Return of the Order—Prologue

“She’s dying, isn’t she?”

“Yes, my love, at the current rate of decay, she may not live to see our children born.”

“Why has she hidden this from us, I don’t want to lose her. I have lost so much already.”

“I know, but the choice must be hers, we can only act if she chooses.”

The pair retook their human form as the door to the cottage opened; a tired and frail Margaret met them. Her hair was grey and thinning, and where she had once stood tall, she now stooped and used a cane to support her as she shuffled on unsteady feet. There was a marked change in her since their last visit.

“Come now; I’m not dead yet, we will talk about it once I have checked on the babies.”

She ushered the pair into the cottage and closed the door. Louisa waddled over to the bed and laid down with some difficulty. Her struggle to get comfortable brought a smile to Margaret’s face.

“They are growing well then, and active?”

“Yes, it is like having two fighting hell beasts in there. Please tell me I don’t have much longer to go.”

Margaret placed her hands on Louisa’s swollen stomach while Malphas looked on. Margaret’s features softened, and she seemed to stand taller as she monitored the babies.

“Two weeks, a month maybe. It is hard to tell as they were dormant for so long.”

The twins had helped save Louisa after the renegade angel, Ash Landers, ripped out her heart. She had remained suspended between life and death from that moment until Malphas had returned to her at the end of his contract. They had visited Margaret every month since then to ensure that the twins were safe. Demon pregnancies were rare enough, but surviving the start they had, had never been heard of before.

Margaret continued, “I would be more comfortable if you weren’t popping backwards and forwards through the portal now. If you go into labour in the demon realm, you may not make it back here in time.”

Louisa looked at Malphas, who nodded and said, “If that is what you think is best, then we will remain here.”

Louisa smiled at Margaret, “it will give us a chance to spend some time together as well.”

“Yes,” said Margaret, “now for the advice that you won’t like. No more sex until after the birth.”

They both looked at her, the unhappiness clear on both their faces. Margaret chuckled, “No intercourse at least. I’m sure you can find creative alternatives, but be more gentle than you would normally be.”

Malphas smirked, “I’m sure we can manage that.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear it,” said Margaret, then she continued, “now you can ask what you have wanted to since you arrived here.”

“How long have you known?” asked Louisa.

“Since before Malphas brought you back. I started to find holding the enchantments in place harder and harder. It was a huge relief when the angel was destroyed, and I could release the shielding at last, but by then, the damage was already done.”

“Why did you not say something, you know we can help?”

“What I want would tie you both to the human realm for too long. You deserve to follow your own path, not to be constrained by an old woman’s needs.”

Louisa looked at Malphas, who said, “That is for us to decide. What would you ask of us?”

“All I want is the chance to see the children grow; to share the joy that was taken away from me with you, Louisa.”

“With father still weak and Ciel having difficulty adjusting, I would want nothing more than to have you in their lives, but we can do that without…”

“No,” said Margaret forcefully, “I have no desire to become a demon, I need 18 years to see the children to adulthood, no more.”

“Do you understand what will happen at the end of the contract?” Ask Malphas.

“Yes, the gates of paradise will be forever closed, no heaven, no hell, just nothingness, food for a demon. After the life I have led, it sounds perfect to me. All I ask is that it is Louisa that does it, and that at the end, you allow the illness to take its natural course.”

Louisa looked at Malphas, tears welling in her eyes; the contract would bind her to Margaret, to her childhood home, it would invariably mean time apart from Malphas to ensure that the desires of one master never conflicted with the orders of the other. Despite the heavy price, she agreed.

“Then it is settled,” said Malphas. “You will form the contract with Louisa, she will be responsible for keeping you alive until the children reach their eighteenth birthdays, then the illness will return and run its course; on your death, she will feed on your soul.”

Malphas looked at Louisa. “You know what to do now, my love?”

“Yes.”

“Then I shall leave you to formalise the contract while I attend to the other matter we discussed.”

Malphas made his way to the chard and rotting remains of Louisa’s childhood home. They had discussed the possibility of rebuilding the house even before they realised how ill Margaret was. While the demon realm was home, it was not somewhere for young children to remain, especially as they had no way of knowing how human the children would be.

As Malphas set to work manipulating the decayed matter of the home, he contemplated the twists that fate had dealt them. Louisa was not as reliant on souls as he was, they would benefit her, but she would not feel any ill effects from such a long contract. This was something that Margaret would have known. It also meant that Malphas was free to secure a contract that met his needs while they were in the human world. But the weight of the separation that it would entail weighed heavily on him.

It would seem that their lives together would continue to be anything but simple.

Thank you for reading, if you've enjoyed this please leave a tip and try the first story—The Scourge of the Demon Hunters